A canyon a few minutes from the water, old trees over the ceremony lawn, and light that stays soft long after the beach has gone harsh.
The Ranch sits in Aliso Canyon, close enough to the ocean that you feel the marine air and far enough in that you are surrounded by hillsides instead of parking. I have photographed here many times, and the thing I tell couples first is that the trees are the reason to book it. They hold shade across the lawn through the hottest part of the afternoon, so a two o'clock ceremony looks as good as a five o'clock one, which is not true at most Orange County venues.
Getting ready happens in the cottages on property, so the morning is unhurried and nobody is in a car. Ceremonies are on the lawn under the canopy. Receptions go either outside on the grass or into the dining rooms, which are bright and low-key and photograph beautifully without much help. The golf course and the trails behind it give you somewhere quiet to disappear for ten minutes between dinner and dancing.
Questions Couples Ask
Where do ceremonies happen? On the lawn, under the canopy of old trees. Receptions go outside on the grass or into the dining rooms, and the cottages mean you get ready on property.
When should we do portraits? The canyon walls send the light soft earlier here than at a beach venue. The half hour before sunset under the big trees is the best of the day, and it is worth holding fifteen minutes for it.
Can we see a full wedding from this venue? Yes, Jenna and Keith's wedding at The Ranch is on the site.
Do you photograph elsewhere in Laguna? Often. See the Laguna Beach guide for the coastline and the coves.